Lithic Points in the Epipaleolithic of the North-Western Caucasus: forms and functions (preliminary results based on materials from Mezmaiskaya Cave)

Abstract

The Epipaleolithic industries of the Caucasus, which have similar technical and typological characteristics, contain also a specific set of lithic points, which includes mainly symmetrically retouched points, the Gravette and microgravette points, and Vachons points, as well as more rare shouldered points and some other diverse forms. The majority of previous functional analyses of the Late Upper Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic lithic points did not involve the study of correlation between the point morphological type and its function. The authors focus on the correlation between the point types and their functions, taking into account a fractional typological division of the tools. The preliminary results of the functional (use-wear) analysis of lithic points from Layer 1–3 (17/16–12/11 ka) in the Mezmaiskaya Cave indicate that all the analyzed symmetrically retouched points can be identified as piercing weapons tips. Other point forms have more diverse functions, although more than half of the Gravette, microgravette and Vachons points were also used as piercing weapons tips.